Employment issues - any and all advice welcome!

[arack]

Wow - crazy about the already firing a few :/

Not a bad idea about getting them out for a day and testing their punctuality, work ethic, etc. May be a serious option - thanx man.

I did the facebook thing lol - and the guy Im bout to let go had some ridiculous stuff on his facebook (alot of cursing and stuff) does not portray that in person though, odd. Thanx for the advice man :dblthumb2:

Sure, no problem. The facebook pages can tell a lot about how a person conducts themself. As they say, its not what you do when people are looking, its what you do when no one is looking.

We are moving toward a 90 day trial work period. You can be let go at any time if you are not cutting it. It would sure make more sense.

 

[Jons6.7]

Honestly the real issue is the type of people they are, you can teach anyone to detail but if they are slackers in life it does not matter how much you can teach or offer them. If they can't get to work on time or show some care and respect just cut your loss early.

I would hire based on how they come across and act vs having any detailing skills. That way you get a good employee that can be taught how to detail the way you want them to.

 

[Bates Detailing]

Soaking all this in guys! Thanks for everyone's responses - If I can take something from everyone's responses and implement it into a plan of action I believe this issue can be remedied! Thanks again guys and all advice is welcomed : keep it coming!

 

[Kristopher1129]

Well, I think me and you have had this conversation over the phone, or at least something similar to it.

It's one of those things you really have no control over. Unfortunately, if you have any type of higher standards at all related to the work you put out...being a detailer, basically leaves you screwed till you find someone that fits.

I've tried to do interviews, I've had guys come in and work for a day, I've tried craigslist ads...none of it matters. None of it brought me a guy I could trust, was reliable, or even really wanted to work for that matter.

I feel you strongly, cause I'm in the same position. I desperately need a third man...but have had no luck. So me and my regular guy have been working 70+ hour weeks trying to get it all done. I have one other guy, but he only works saturdays. It's exhausting...but customers are happy, and feedback has never been so good.

My advice, is to keep your quality intact with you and Tyson. Just work hard, schedule the work out as best you can, and hope someone comes along who is the right fit. It's like most things...if you look for it, you won't find it. Stop looking, and it will happen.

IF you do try people out...be extremely stern and express what it takes to work for you. Let them know, one slip up...and you're gone. It's not a job where you can call out, or have sick days. Obviously legitimate sick days are different...but they should be there for you damn near 100% of the time.
Be thankful you have that one guy...cause in all reality it could be worse.

 

[Bates Detailing]

Well, I think me and you have had this conversation over the phone, or at least something similar to it.

It's one of those things you really have no control over. Unfortunately, if you have any type of higher standards at all related to the work you put out...being a detailer, basically leaves you screwed till you find someone that fits.

I've tried to do interviews, I've had guys come in and work for a day, I've tried craigslist ads...none of it matters. None of it brought me a guy I could trust, was reliable, or even really wanted to work for that matter.

I feel you strongly, cause I'm in the same position. I desperately need a third man...but have had no luck. So me and my regular guy have been working 70+ hour weeks trying to get it all done. I have one other guy, but he only works saturdays. It's exhausting...but customers are happy, and feedback has never been so good.

My advice, is to keep your quality intact with you and Tyson. Just work hard, schedule the work out as best you can, and hope someone comes along who is the right fit. It's like most things...if you look for it, you won't find it. Stop looking, and it will happen.

IF you do try people out...be extremely stern and express what it takes to work for you. Let them know, one slip up...and you're gone. It's not a job where you can call out, or have sick days. Obviously legitimate sick days are different...but they should be there for you damn near 100% of the time.
Be thankful you have that one guy...cause in all reality it could be worse.

Yeah man - we have talked about this and it is very EXHAUSTING..... having a guy to trust to be on time and do quality work is needed to be able to schedule the proper work load for the day. So I need to treat this search like that of dating lol?!?!? Don't look and the perfect one will come lol! Well Kris - this is my last offer my friend, for 60,000 a year (descent in TN but maybe not up north lol) you move to TN and help me grow my friend?!?!?! Deal?!?!?

 

[Kristopher1129]

Yeah man - we have talked about this and it is very EXHAUSTING..... having a guy to trust to be on time and do quality work is needed to be able to schedule the proper work load for the day. So I need to treat this search like that of dating lol?!?!? Don't look and the perfect one will come lol! Well Kris - this is my last offer my friend, for 60,000 a year (descent in TN but maybe not up north lol) you move to TN and help me grow my friend?!?!?! Deal?!?!?

If I wasn't hitting record numbers myself...I would absolutely do that, ha.

Damn, to be able to just detail and not run a business too...that sounds awesome, ha.

And yes...it's much like dating, ha. Actually...it's more similar than it should be! Seriously, finding a good worker is like finding a wife. Except this time you need more than one, lol.

 

[Bates Detailing]

If I wasn't hitting record numbers myself...I would absolutely do that, ha.

Damn, to be able to just detail and not run a business too...that sounds awesome, ha.

:laughing: I know right! Being the pee-on, manager, marketing director, financial advisor, book keeper, payroll specialist, President, Ceo, Customer service rep, HR director, etc...... yep, its tough lol!

 

[Kristopher1129]

:laughing: I know right! Being the pee-on, manager, marketing director, financial advisor, book keeper, payroll specialist, President, Ceo, Customer service rep, HR director, etc...... yep, its tough lol!

I hear ya. I actually had a customer come in last week, and compliment the crap out of my business. She says "I was really impressed by your website, facebook page, and whoever I spoke to on the phone". Yeah...that's all me, ha. She couldn't believe I answer the phones, update facebook, handle the website, and everything else. Got a decent tip once she found out, haha.

I'm trying to get my fiance in the office. She's all nervous about it since she has a full time job. But, she's taking it pretty serious since she recently saw my numbers for last year. She's finally seeing how fast the business has grown. And now she sees how busy it is...it's obvious. That step is becoming necessary. I can't run the office much longer.

The difference between 2010, and 2011s numbers is staggering. I don't know what I did in between those times...but something worked, ha.

 

[Bates Detailing]

I hear ya. I actually had a customer come in last week, and compliment the crap out of my business. She says "I was really impressed by your website, facebook page, and whoever I spoke to on the phone". Yeah...that's all me, ha. She couldn't believe I answer the phones, update facebook, handle the website, and everything else. Got a decent tip once she found out, haha.

I'm trying to get my fiance in the office. She's all nervous about it since she has a full time job. But, she's taking it pretty serious since she recently saw my numbers for last year. She's finally seeing how fast the business has grown. And now she sees how busy it is...it's obvious. That step is becoming necessary. I can't run the office much longer.

Id love to get my "wife" in the office - only Im not a fan of mixing family and business plus I think she is dyslexic with numbers :/ .... I personally want to get in the office and not touch another vehicle other than training - my body hurts lol. If I can find another Tyson or myself, then I can jump in the office and concentrate on the website (not touched in ages it seems) and other marketing material and CS type stuff. Can't grow until I can get in there :/ Im glad to hear that you have turned around the business you acquired - Im sure it was not easy man. And I see your Facebook updates all the time and wonder how you are able to post all those deals and comments lol! I always want to repeat what you say on facebook on my facebook but am fearing the whole stealing your work thing lol - so I pass. Good talking to you on here as well, been awhile man.

 

[Kristopher1129]

Id love to get my "wife" in the office - only Im not a fan of mixing family and business plus I think she is dyslexic with numbers :/ .... I personally want to get in the office and not touch another vehicle other than training - my body hurts lol. If I can find another Tyson or myself, then I can jump in the office and concentrate on the website (not touched in ages it seems) and other marketing material and CS type stuff. Can't grow until I can get in there :/ Im glad to hear that you have turned around the business you acquired - Im sure it was not easy man. And I see your Facebook updates all the time and wonder how you are able to post all those deals and comments lol! I always want to repeat what you say on facebook on my facebook but am fearing the whole stealing your work thing lol - so I pass. Good talking to you on here as well, been awhile man.

Not easy at all. I wish I knew what I was taking on in the beginning...cause I would have changed certain things. But, it's the past, and I've achieved a reputation better than I could have dreamed of. Hard work has definitely paid off and created quite a turn around in the past year and a half or so.

The Facebook thing isn't too bad. Just gotta set yourself up to make it easy. For example, every time I take a picture with my phone...they automatically get uploaded to photobucket. So I just jump on the computer during lunch or at night, and add my photos and what not.

The reviews are cake, cause I copy and paste them out of my scheduling program. A lot of times I do it right from my phone.

Updating facebook really does create a buzz to your page. I've grown my "Likes" dramatically that way. Don't feel bad about stealing...they're all ideas. Just word things your own way, and you're good to go.

 

[Bates Detailing]

Not easy at all. I wish I knew what I was taking on in the beginning...cause I would have changed certain things. But, it's the past, and I've achieved a reputation better than I could have dreamed of. Hard work has definitely paid off and created quite a turn around in the past year and a half or so.

The Facebook thing isn't too bad. Just gotta set yourself up to make it easy. For example, every time I take a picture with my phone...they automatically get uploaded to photobucket. So I just jump on the computer during lunch or at night, and add my photos and what not.

The reviews are cake, cause I copy and paste them out of my scheduling program. A lot of times I do it right from my phone.

Updating facebook really does create a buzz to your page. I've grown my "Likes" dramatically that way. Don't feel bad about stealing...they're all ideas. Just word things your own way, and you're good to go.

Cool man - quick question :

How do you get so many reviews? We service say 3 to 7 new customers a week and each are always super happy - I ask them to write a review, they agree, then a few days later I see nothing.... very frustrating.... but I see you post new reviews all the time. Do you offer them something in exchange?

 

[Frenchie]

still looking for good workers? I am in Memphis and would LOVE to move to the Nashville area. Only one problem though and that is I am a perfectionist. I absolutely refuse to work at any less than my 100% capacity..

 

[BobbyG]

I don't understand how people don't just work hard and take pride in their work to begin with - behooves me :dunno:

FINALLY, someone that feels exactly the way I do!! :applause::applause:

 

[Bates Detailing]

still looking for good workers? I am in Memphis and would LOVE to move to the Nashville area. Only one problem though and that is I am a perfectionist. I absolutely refuse to work at any less than my 100% capacity..

Id love to Frenchie, but we were interviewing a month ago and a guy seemed perfect.... but lived out of state and would've moved here - we just feel uncomfortable having someone uproot to come work for us, especially knowing that anything can happen like a dry spout or something similar and now you have the dilemma of no work or little work. While that hasn't been the case so far, we still don't want that over our heads basically :/ Thanx for the offer man.

FINALLY, someone that feels exactly the way I do!! :applause::applause:

Upbringing I think :dunno:

 

[Klasse Act]

Hey B&B, since your in the business, do you think it matters how the would be employee takes care of his own ride?

 

[Frenchie]

I do. I believe that in the detail industry if your own vehicle is at the very least clean that gives off a good image. If you are charging good money and offering a "luxury" service such as detailing. (By luxury service I mean a service that NO ONE NEEDS they just want.) Then your work or personal vehicle should be a direct reflection of your work.

 

[Bates Detailing]

Hey B&B, since your in the business, do you think it matters how the would be employee takes care of his own ride?

I do. I believe that in the detail industry if your own vehicle is at the very least clean that gives off a good image. If you are charging good money and offering a "luxury" service such as detailing. (By luxury service I mean a service that NO ONE NEEDS they just want.) Then your work or personal vehicle should be a direct reflection of your work.

I want to say yes, but honestly it does not matter to me - point being that our personal and work vehicles are by far in bad condition compared to those that we detail. This is solely for the fact that we do this all day everyday and do not have time to clean up our own vehicles. My wife says all the time, " You have a detailing company, why don't you detail our cars?!?!?". LOL - Cause Im exhausted! We have put Tyson's wife's car off for over a month now :/ - again cause we don't have the time.

 

[twisted1]

so far i have only 1 helper, i think is more important what quality the person has.
he has to be able to listen and execute , and to be liable.
if he step on the side , he has a warning , after that he is out.
i treat him as a friend and help him but i can`t get attached , is business !

Yep :bolt:



Im starting to feel the whole don't get attached thing man - never felt that way till the past month, but it is starting to get irritating to train these guys and realize that I wasted my time. If good pay isn't motivation, or the chance to grow with a company isn't motivation, then what else can I offer?!?!?

Sounds like you are hiring a bunch of young people. The kind that will apply for a job because mama says to get the F^&() off the couch and go do something.
Or the ones trying to please a probation officer or child support authorities.
Off topic
I went thru a bad period in my life (dad died) and was not the best of employees. For some reason the boss still stuck by me even though the general manager wanted me out. Verbal warning, followed by written warning.
Still trudged on. After the economy collapsed, and department budgets, along with employee pay was cut, I was one of the few who hadn't jumped ship and moved on. I felt a huge commitment to the boss that always had my back.
Now, I have extra responsibility at a lower wage than hired at. And with the company not replacing those lost through attrition, the workload is unbearable. But I persevere not for the company's sake, but out of friendship to my supe, who is also overworked and stressed out.

Back on topic: I suggest talking to family, church members, heck even clients that you are comfortable with to inquire of possible candidates for employment.
Most people I know are blundt and to the point and will rather give a good reference than to send someone they respect a clown.
Last suggestion
The state I reside in offers prescreened applicants throught the State Employment Office... and it's free.

 

[rolop6]

B&B, Quick question, you say you don't have a shop? Right? So where do you set up? Been Trying Malls, outlet Malls, different Shopping Centers and its always the run around. Any quick advice? thanks!!

 

[timaishu]

Obviously you need to find someone on this forum and hire them. :xyxthumbs: